Canadian rivers: rain still required

Once again this summer, the Miramichi has had to close its holding pools because of low flow and warming waters. The situation on that river remains 'no change' in terms of the closure, but hopes are high for some equinoxial weather action soon to bring in the late runs on this, and neighbouring rivers in New Brunswick, and other world-famous salmon rivers such as the Bonaventure and Grand Cascapedia. Meanwhile, here is a run down of the latest from Canada courtesy of the ASF (Atlantic Salmon Federation).

River Notes – Change of Season

This week it is all about looking forward to September, and this year that means all about getting some heavy rains to bring up the water flows.

Gaspésie Region

Grand Cascapedia – To August 24, Darlene Sexton reported that “38 fish cooperated with anglers this week bringing our total for August to 246. With a few camps not reporting in time for this overview, those unreported fish should bring numbers up somewhat and we should be able to reach 300 fish for the month.” With a flow of 24 cubic meters/second on the 29th following good rain that traversed the Gaspé Peninsula, angling success should improve.

Bonaventure – For the season to August 28, 918 fish had been landed (653 salmon released and 265 grilse retained). With low water conditions, most of the fish are holding in the recesses of deep cold water pools, making it challenging to get a rise.

Matane – To August 27, at total of 2,001 fish (989 salmon and 1,012 grilse) have returned to the river. A total of 721 fish (307 salmon and 414 grilse) have been reported landed. As of August 29, the Matane was flowing at 9.9 cubic meters/second and rising, thanks to the storm that came through on Monday. The run of fish on the Matane has now been over 2,000 for 26 consecutive years. Is there something in the water……..

Lower St-Lawrence Region

Matapedia – To August 28, for the season that started on June 1, the CGRMP is reporting that 748 fish have been landed. Of these, 693 salmon and grilse were retained in addition to 55 reported releases. Good angling has come in short spurts after the too infrequent rain this season.

Mitis – To August 27, 918 fish had entered the river, 560 salmon and 358 grilse. For the season, the Mitis Zec is reporting that 255 fish have been landed (123 salmon and 132 grilse) which include 16 reported releases. Anybody notice the reversal of numbers from last week… The author was all thumbs when reporting Mitis numbers last week.

Nova Scotia

Listening to Rene Aucoin on the Cheticamp River, a river he is passionate about, one hears the story of a long, dry summer, when up to 70 or more salmon checked out the river in late June, and just faded back into the ocean vastness. But the Cheticamp River had some rain last week, and it rained heavily night before last, resulting in some Atlantic salmon have been spotted in the river.

Cheticamp River

Like other places, the temperatures are dropping a bit, but it has continued to be a hot summer. The Cheticamp River remains CLOSED for Atlantic salmon angling, but many anglers are hoping there will be something of a salmon season possible in September.

Margaree – Some of the same rain made it over the mountain into the NW Margaree River but much more is needed. It will be interesting to see what September will bring for both rains and runs.

New Brunswick

Miramichi – It is still hot and dry, but there was a little bump of rain at the same time as the Cape Breton rivers saw it, the nights are cooler, taking the edge off the heat, with the beginnings of rain forecasts starting next Wednesday. The rain should be coming. There also could be some fallout due to the destabilizing effect of the latest hurricane.

The conservation limits banning angling on the 15 pools and stretches of river remain in force on the Miramichi.

Jacquet River Salmon Numbers to Aug. 26 (2012 and 2011)

Jacquet River - A few Atlantic salmon are moving into the system, with 7 grilse and one large salmon this week. But as the graph shows, our expectations were raised after last year’s tremendous returns, and met with a difficult year in 2012.

There was a significant rain night before last (Monday night), and more rain may be on the way be middle of next week.

Newfoundland

A little more rain sends the salmon upstream, or so it appears. Don Ivany notes that in many rivers anglers are seeing only modest success as the Atlantic salmon are more interested in travelling upstream whenever a rain event happens.

Humber – Apparently there have been quite a number of happy salmon anglers in the Humber River headwaters recently.

The Main River is a good example of one of the Newfoundland rivers starting to experience greater flows in the past week.